Yesterday’s enemies turned fast friends, the Luftwaffe maintains a Flying Training Center at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. Yesterday the German air force’s Tornado contingent at the FTC marked the passage of their 55,555th flight hour with a special paint job. More details at AF.mil.

Two German Tornados, one specially painted to commemorate the event, fly over the German air force Flying Training Center at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. Oct. 13, 2009, on the way to achieving the 55,555th flight hourin a Tornado. Col. Peter Klement, German air force Flying Training Center commander and Col. Jeff Harrigian, 49th Fighter Wing commander, were flying the painted Tornado. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Veronica Stamps)